Lambasting top bureaucrats of Tamil Nadu
for their failure to furnish data relating to backlog of vacancies for
disabled persons in various government departments, the Madras high
court has initiated contempt of court proceedings against chief
secretary Sheela Balakrishnan and two other officers.
According
to the statute, there shall be reservation of 3% of all available
vacancies for disabled persons. While the court had passed necessary
orders nearly two years ago, the issue gained importance after last
month's Supreme Court ruling directing all state governments to set
apart 3% of all available vacancies for disabled persons.
Justice S Manikumar, pointing out that at least 23 government
departments have not furnished required details of backlog vacancies
despite several adjournments and directives, said: "Though repeatedly,
this court has issued orders to identify the posts in 'A', 'B', 'C' and
'D' categories and consequently, to fill up the posts as expeditiously
as possible, the process is on and on and from the materials produced
before this court, out of 34 secretarial heads, 140 Heads of
Departments, 102 government undertakings, including universities and 54
companies owned and controlled by the government, only 70 HoDs have
furnished the details of 'A', 'B', 'C' and 'D' categories."
"So far, 50 out of 102 government undertakings and boards, etc., have furnished the details. No clear details have been furnished by about the 54 companies owned and controlled by the government," Justice Manikumar said.
He then said: "This court is constrained to issue contempt notices to Sheela Balakrishnan, chief secretary of Tamil Nadu and head of Monitoring Committee for Differently Abled, P Sivasankaran, secretary of Welfare of Differently Abled department and Manivasan, commissioner for the differently abled, to explain as to why further course of action should not be taken under the Contempt of Courts Act. Registry is directed to issue necessary statutory notices to the above said persons."
However, after advocate-general A L Somayaji requested the court to postpone the issuance of the statutory notice, which would require the personal appearance of the officers concerned, the judge said the officers could make necessary applications if they complied with directions of the high court and the Supreme Court.
Source : TOI , 11th Feb 2014
"So far, 50 out of 102 government undertakings and boards, etc., have furnished the details. No clear details have been furnished by about the 54 companies owned and controlled by the government," Justice Manikumar said.
He then said: "This court is constrained to issue contempt notices to Sheela Balakrishnan, chief secretary of Tamil Nadu and head of Monitoring Committee for Differently Abled, P Sivasankaran, secretary of Welfare of Differently Abled department and Manivasan, commissioner for the differently abled, to explain as to why further course of action should not be taken under the Contempt of Courts Act. Registry is directed to issue necessary statutory notices to the above said persons."
However, after advocate-general A L Somayaji requested the court to postpone the issuance of the statutory notice, which would require the personal appearance of the officers concerned, the judge said the officers could make necessary applications if they complied with directions of the high court and the Supreme Court.
Source : TOI , 11th Feb 2014
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